Schnuck Markets Inc. has selected 10 Midwest businesses for the third cohort of Schnucks Springboard, the grocer’s emerging business accelerator, the company announced July 21.
The companies begin business development classes at Schnucks’ St. Louis, Missouri, headquarters on Aug. 6. Each will receive $5,000 in equity-free funding along with networking opportunities. Participants that meet food safety, insurance and certification requirements will receive an in-store product trial at select Schnucks stores in spring 2027.
The third cohort includes:
- B. Happy Peanut Butter
- Chef Pure Foods LLC
- ChiChi Foods
- Eccentric Earth LLC
- El Café Cubano
- Hink’s Smokehouse
- Nari
- Springfield Trading Company
- Tastachio Brands LLC
- 3 Bears Granola
“By bringing these talented local makers onto our shelves, we aren’t just expanding our product variety, we are actively investing in our communities and fueling local economic growth,” said Adrian Moore, senior director of merchandising enablement and emerging suppliers at Schnucks. “When we champion these homegrown brands, we strengthen the regional supply chain and give our customers front-row access to the very best our neighbors have to offer.”
Schnucks Springboard launched in 2024. Products from the second cohort recently completed a shelf trial at select stores.
Founded in St. Louis in 1939, Schnuck Markets, Inc. is a third- and fourth-generation family-owned grocery retailer operating 112 stores in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana with more than 11,000 employees. The company is part of 1939 Group, Inc., whose other holdings include Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers, Inc.